Health, Education & Welfare Committee — 2024-02-12
Attendance
Cal Finocchiaro ; Ward Hamilton ; Manjula Karamcheti ; Leila Migliorelli ; Devin Romanul ; Kimberly Vandiver
Agenda
- Call to Order
- Public Comment
- Appointments/Reappointments
- APPT-2024-14 : Appointment of Jay Stapp, 21 Berwick Street, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission, for a three-year term to expire on the last day of February 2025.
- APPT-2024-15 : Appointment of Maura Sullivan, 393 East Foster Street, to the Melrose Council on Aging for a three-year term set to expire on the last day of February 2027.
- Adjournment
Minutes
CITY OF MELROSE HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELFARE COMMITTEE CALENDAR● FEBRUARY 12, 2024 Council Chamber, First Floor, Melrose City Hall Committee Meeting 7:05 PM 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176 The public should take notice that the Melrose City Council may, on certain occasions, have a quorum in attendance due to standing committees of the City Council consisting of both voting and non-voting members. Members attending this duly posted meeting are participating and deliberating only in conjunction with the business of the standing committee. Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Manjula Karamcheti Chair Present Cal Finocchiaro Vice Chair Present Ward Hamilton Absent Devin Romanul Present Kimberly Vandiver Present Leila Migliorelli President, Ex Oficio Present Non voting members present include: Councilor Jamaleddine
APPT-2024-14 Appointment Appointment of Jay Stapp, 21 Berwick Street, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission, for a three-year term to expire on the last day of February 2025. Ought to Pass City Council
APPT-2024-15 Appointment Appointment of Maura Sullivan, 393 East Foster Street, to the Melrose Council on Aging for a three-year term set to expire on the last day of February 2027. Ought to Pass City Council City of Melrose Page 1 2/14/2024 3:48 PM
Transcript
▶ 0:02 Manjula Karamcheti: Good evening everyone. It is February 12th, 2024. This is the meeting of the Health Education and Welfare Committee, and I am Counselor Carm Chaney, the chair. Joining me tonight, our Vice Chair C Counselor Rio Counselor, counselor Van DeVeer, and President Elli Exofficio in accordance with the open Meeting law. This meeting is being recorded and broadcast in our local cable access channel, MMTV, as well as live streamed through mmt v.org. This meeting will be available for future viewing through the City of Melrose website meeting portal as well. Now is the time in our meeting where we move to public comment. This is a time where any member of the public may speak to any items on our agenda.
▶ 1:05 Manjula Karamcheti: The committee does not engage at this time in a back and forth dialogue, but we will listen to whatever individuals from the public have to share with us. A motion by unanimous consent to open public comment. Do we have anyone online? Uh, there's no one online at this time. Okay. No one here to speak. Okay. So at this time I'll motion by unanimous consent to close public comment. Seeing no objections, public comment is now closed. Tonight we have two orders, which are two appointments. Our first appointment is the appointment, uh, it's appointment 2024 dash 14, appointment of Jay Staff 21 Berwick Street to the Melrose Human Rights Commission for a three year term to expire on the last day of February, 2025.
▶ 2:03 Manjula Karamcheti: Representing Mayor Grita is Lauren Grek, our chief of Staff, and she's here to present this candidate. At this time, I will motion by unanimous consent to suspend the rules. Seeing no objection, the rules are suspended. Welcome, Councillor Jamal. Okay. Thank you for being here tonight. Yes. Uh, Ms. I will turn it over to you to introduce this candidate for The Rights Commission. Well, thank you very much. Um, I'll point out that, um, um, Mr. Staff's appointment first came down from former Mayor Broder, um, but it was at the end of his term. Um, but Mayor Gregor has, um, met with him and endorsed the appointment as well. And so now it is, um, she's sending it down. He's also been endorsed by members
▶ 2:49 of the Human Rights Commission. So, um, given sort of his background and his work, um, in social justice in particular, we think that he'd make an awesome addition to the Human Rights Commission. So. Great. Uh, Mr. Stab, you're welcome to share any information or any insights, um, regarding your, uh, desire to be on the Human Rights Commission. Yeah, so I grew up, um, in an environment where we were very focused on intercultural learning and social justice and that sort of thing. Um, from there, that led me in my career to focus on social justice. So I led, um, a Pride Alliance Employee Resource Group at my company for three years. And I really enjoyed that work. Um, and I wanted to kind of do that,
▶ 3:38 Kimberly Vandiver: do similar work in my local community, which is what led me to, um, seek this opportunity out. Great. Thank you so much. Any questions from counselors? Go ahead. Um, yes, I, I've read your resume and it's, it's really impressive. And, um, so, uh, congratulations. I guess in advance, I just wanted to clarify, um, the order says, um, that it's a three year term, but it also says to expire in February, 2025. So I just wanted to clarify the length of the term. Yeah, it should be a one year term. 'cause it's filling a vacancy. Okay. That was left by someone, um, else, so, okay, great. So maybe that's something we can amend. Um, yeah. Great. Yeah, Thanks. Got it. Any other questions? Go ahead, president.
▶ 4:33 Leila Migliorelli: Merely thank you for joining us tonight. Um, just wanted to hear a little bit more about what your thoughts are about the commission, what you would like to, um, bring to it, specifically as we're in this, um, very, uh, sort of crucial moment of, um, you know, human rights and social justice issues. Um, having served on the commission prior to being on the council, it's a, uh, commissions near and dear to my heart. So I'd just like to hear more about, um, what you think you might wanna bring to the commission specifically. Yeah. Um, it seems like the commission is in a time of flux where they're, um, looking back at their charter redefining. Um, and I think that that is work that I'm really excited to help with.
▶ 5:10 Leila Migliorelli: Um, I've done similar things in my work at Land O'Lakes as an employee resource group leader. Um, and I think that I'll be able to bring some organization, some thoughts and ideas that will help move the commission where they're seeking to go. Great. Thank you. Just a point of clarification too on, um, Councillor Van. Dever Mark is, was this perhaps a three year term that was set to expire in 2025? So it's, I don't know if they count if the order needs to be amended, if even though it's just one remaining year, like it's not a three year term. I don't know. I just remember this coming up before, so I just wanna make sure Okay. Or if we do need to amend it to a one year term to expire on the last day of 2025.
▶ 5:58 Manjula Karamcheti: I, Go ahead. Yeah. In my experience that this, the language of this order is referring to the three year terms of, um, previous vacant. Yeah. The person that was vacant. The order is, um, is, you know, So it, if I'm understanding what you're saying, the order itself actually is fine the way that it is because it is filling the term was three years. Yes. It's worth it correctly. Yeah. Got it. Thank you for that. Um, I just have a question. First, thank you so much for your willingness to step up and being on the Human Rights Commission. I enjoyed looking at your resume and your interest and some of the work that you've done. Is there any one thing that you would really love the Human Rights Commission to work on
▶ 6:50 or think about in relation to Melrose and our sort of wanting to be one community open to all? Yeah. Um, I'm really excited for the, the change in focus that the commission is having, moving away from event planning, more to strategic human rights, looking at those concerns in the community. Um, and so I think I'm fully on board with the mission of this commission and moving that forward, um, and pursuing that however I can, a specific passion of mine is, um, L-G-B-T-Q rights, and that's something that I'm excited to help further in our community. Great. Thank you so much. So at this time, I ask what the will of the committee is? Yes. Council, I would make a motion to recommend to the full council.
▶ 7:42 Manjula Karamcheti: Okay. We have a motion to recommend made by Councillor Aldine. Second. Sorry, I have a Oh it a second. By Council Rio, uh, on discussion. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Okay. This motion carries. Thank you for being here tonight. Uh, this motion will be moved onto our full council. You do not need to appear at that time. Um, but of course you are welcome if you would like to be. Um, and just thank you for stepping up. Yeah. Thank you all. Need people like you volunteering for things in the city. Thank you. Take care. Okay, next, we're moving on to appointment 2024 dash 15, the appointment of Morris Sullivan, 3 93 East Foster Street to the Melrose Council on Aging for a three year term set to expire on the last day of February, 2027.
▶ 8:45 Welcome. We are still under suspension of the rules, so please go ahead and introduce the next candidate. Good evening. Thanks for having us here Tonight. Um, I am happy to introduce, uh, Ms. Morris Sullivan, um, to be appointed to the Council on Aging, uh, board of Directors. I've had the pleasure on several occasions along with the board, um, to meet with her at our, our public meetings. Um, and we are excited to endorse her, endorse her to the board. Great. Ms. Solomon, would you care to share any words? Sure. I'm not used to speaking in a microphone. Um, You get used to it. I've been a lifelong resident of Melrose my entire life, and, um, I just retired from teaching in June of 22, so I decided it was time to give something back.
▶ 9:35 Manjula Karamcheti: So I thought I would volunteer my time for the Council on Aging. I think it's a wonderful program and I'm anxious to learn more about it and how I can help, hopefully. Wonderful. Thank you so much. Any questions from counselors? Um, well, I first just wanna say thank you for your service as an educator, and clearly it is something you are dedicated and devoted to because you're stepping up again to share, uh, your time and energy, um, with others and community, and definitely appreciate that. Um, you know, just kind of similarly to the question just that I just asked, is there anything that you're excited about? Any ideas you have, anything you're thinking about in regards to serving? Um, my teaching experience was with very young students.
▶ 10:25 Manjula Karamcheti: Um, I taught first grade for a number of years and then I moved into technology, um, in helping students learn about through technology. Um, so I'm kind of anxious to see how the website work and, you know, if they need any help adding to the websites. Um, but I also feel like communication is such a huge piece in everyday life everywhere. So I think just making sure that the citizens understand, you know, how to access things and things like that to help bring the community together. Yeah, absolutely. I think I've heard from constituents and of families whose, um, family utilize services that connecting to technology and understanding it, particularly in the age of social media and how to use it to stay connected
▶ 11:11 Manjula Karamcheti: with family is something really important. So love that you'll be able to bring that. Um, any other questions? Okay. Uh, what is the will of the committee make a motion to recommend? Excellent. We have a motion to recommend by Councilor Rio. Do we have a second? Seconded by Councilor Romanul. Ramal. Excuse me. Um, all in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? All right. This motion carries. Thank you so much for being here tonight. I'm gonna say the same thing again. This will be moved to the full council. You don't need to be here for that. Um, but you are welcome if you would like to be here. Um, and again, thank you for your time and energy and for serving in the community. Thank you very much. Thank you, council. Thank you.